Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Pays Tribute to Senator Arlen Specter's Lifelong Commitment and Service to the Working Men and Women of Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder paid tribute to the passing of Arlen Specter who is remembered for his courage and tenacity in championing the cause and interests of Pennsylvania's working families.

"We will never forget his compassion and commitment to Pennsylvania and to the working people of Pennsylvania. His courage and leadership in standing up for his constituents has helped improve the lives of millions of workers," Bloomingdale said.

"Arlen Specter put the interests and well-being of working families above all other considerations, even his own political career. He did what he thought was best for the people he served and represented. His deciding vote on the Economic Recovery Act helped avert another great depression even though it was very unpopular among the other leaders of his own political party. It was another example of Senator Specter putting the well-being of Pennsylvania's working families and communities above party and politics. Senator Specter was raised during the great depression. He lived through those extremely hard times and worked fearlessly to prevent a repeat of the needless suffering and hardships," Bloomingdale said.

"Senator Arlen Specter was a champion for hard working middle class families on many key issues. No doubt his commitment to dignity and fairness to working families was rooted in own humble beginnings. He was deeply committed to workplace safety and health, particularly his work on black lung legislation, that literally saved the lives of countless hard-working coal miners," Snyder said.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO extends its sympathies and condolences to Senator Specter's wife, Joan, and to their family.